Cap and ball Pistol/Sword belt

[Gfran64]

One of my patients brought in these 2 items from his collection last Friday.

First one is an 1858 Remington New Army .44 cal cap and ball pistol. He said it was traced to the 8th MI cav. and he was under the impression that it was at the Battle of Gettysburg. I said I didn't think that the 8th MI cav. was at Gettysburg. So I did some research for him over the weekend and the 8th was in the West. They were on Stoneman's Raid though.



The second item was an officer's sword belt and buckle.



It is such a cool feeling to actually hold these things in your hands and picture where they were and what they did. It just takes you there. Thought you guys might enjoy seeing them.

Regards,

Greg B)

[Amish John]

Thanks Greg. We're always glad to see pictures like this. Actual history in steel and wood.

[Kerflumoxed]

Great items! Thanks for showing.

Might question the "sword" belt, however. Don't see any "hangers" on which the sword was carried. Are there any stitch marks that might show where they were removed? Also, is the leather "folded" on the top/bottom edges?

Just curious.

Thanks

J

[Ephrum]

Very nice Gfran! Thank you for sharing the pic's!

I'll bet it was cool to see and hold that weapon, knowing that it belonged to a man in the Cavalry, and like you said, thinking about where it's been. And no doubt taking part in various fight's!

[Gunfreak]

I got a colt navy from 56 it probebly saw service in the war, but I don't know in what unit or if it was ever fired in anger.

[2nd Kentucky]

Kerflumoxed wrote:

Great items! Thanks for showing.

Might question the "sword" belt, however. Don't see any "hangers" on which the sword was carried. Are there any stitch marks that might show where they were removed? Also, is the leather "folded" on the top/bottom edges?

I'm just throwing this out there, but with my limited knowledge I at first thought that the leather piece attached to the belt was a bayonet frog?

[Kerflumoxed]

2nd Kentucky wrote:

Kerflumoxed wrote:

Great items! Thanks for showing.

Might question the "sword" belt, however. Don't see any "hangers" on which the sword was carried. Are there any stitch marks that might show where they were removed? Also, is the leather "folded" on the top/bottom edges?

I'm just throwing this out there, but with my limited knowledge I at first thought that the leather piece attached to the belt was a bayonet frog?

That might be a possibility.

For what it is worth, in the pre-war army the NCO's and musicians were issued a straight-bladed sword that was carried on a Baldric...a leather sling that looped over the right shoulder and rested on the left hip. To prevent the Baldric from bouncing up and down on the hip, they were issued a waist-belt with an oval "US" buckle. In the 1850s this belt was replaced with a black buff leather belt, 1.9" wide and from 36 to 40 inches long. This belt utilized the "1851 rectangular brass belt plate, 3.5" x 2.2", bearing the national coat of arms encircled by a wreath of German silver." This belt held the shoulder belt firmly to the body. During the CW years, the Baldric fell by the wayside and many of the NCOs hung their swords from the waist belt. "To do so they used a simple black leather frog with a loop which slid on the belt. These frogs exist today in a variety of styles and sizes..."

The sword-belt had two leather "saber slings" sewn onto the belt, in varying styles, and utlized the same style of buckle. These are the saber belts you frequently see in the old movies...with ONE noticable error: The sabors "hung" on the straps when the cavalryman was mounted, but was carried up on the belt witha "saber hook" when dismounted. In the movies, they always ride with the saber still carried on the "hook." If you try and ride at a gallop, the "hooked" saber will beat your elbow and hip to pieces...plus, the saber cannot be drawn from that position as it is too long! If you can find some photos of a mounted cavalryman, such as Miller's Photographic History of the Civil War, you will know what I mean. Here is a photo of a dismounted trooper with his sword not attached to the hook: http://www.watsonswildlife.com/civil_wa ... rderly.jpg

And here is a sketch showing a mounted cavalryman with his sword properly suspended from the saber straps:

http://www.us-cavalry-historical-club.d ... klein2.jpg

So, I suspect this pictured belt is one of the NCO type of belts.

J